Frequently Asked Questions
When you book with us, you pay a 30 percent deposit to secure your booking and dates and a £500 security deposit.
The remaining balance is due 8 weeks before arrival or immediately when booking within 8 week of arrival.
At Blue Monkey Cornwall, we understand that things happen or plans change, so we always try to be as flexible as possible. Deposit and full rental payment minus the admin fee will be refunded if we can re-let the property otherwise we will require the full rental amount paid in full.
Yes! And we have the fast fibre optic broadband, which is free to use.
We provide hand soap but have taken the decision not to provide individual shampoo and shower gels as we don’t want to impact the environment with excess plastic. We do hope guests will support this and bring their own.
Yes! We do indeed, please do ask us anything that we can do to assist you in advance or during your stay.
Blue Monkey is exceptionally baby and child friendly perfect for families and. It is perfect for multi generational families with 100’s of local activities to entertain all the family from 3 local beaches, to surfing to coastal walks and inland adventures.
Check-in is 16:00 and check-out is by 10:00. However, you’ll be given the option to request an earlier check-in or later check-out if it’s possible. This depends on when other guests are staying and cleaning.
Blue Monkey, Garrett St, Cawsand, Cornwall, PL101PD
Getting to Kingsand and Cawsand by Car (approx 4 hours from London)
- Take the M4 to Bristol and M5 to Exeter.
- After Exeter, take the A38 to Plymouth. Cross the Tamar Bridge into Cornwall and follow the A38 through Landrake and Tideford.
- Turn left at the Trerulefoot roundabout, signposted A374, Looe, Torpoint & Plymouth.
- NB Waitrose is just off the Saltash roundabout and is the last large supermarket before Cawsand (Sainsbury’s is a 15 minute drive from Cawsand in Millbrook)
- After 4.1 miles, turn right, signposted Crafthole, Portwrinkle & Cawsand (the turn appears very quickly after a left hand bend in the road).
- In Crafthole, turn left at the mini roundabout towards Cawsand & Mt. Edgecombe. Follow the lane for 3.7 miles, to and through the outskirts of Millbrook, leaving the village up a hill.
- Turn right at the top of the hill, signposted Kingsand & Cawsand (the turn is just before the old Victorian Forelanesend Primary School).
- Head down the hill, past some council houses on your right.
- Where the road bends right take the left turn down towards Kingsand and head down the main street Fore Street (mini supermarket is on your right)
- At the bottom of Fore Street you are in the heart of the village The Half Way House pub is directly opposite to you an Art shop to your left and Skinners public car park is to your right.
- We suggest you carry on to Blue Monkey (2 houses up from the Half Way House pub) and use the passing area on the right of the road to unload.
- Then return the car to Skinners car park via the one way system. £1 is required to enter Skinners car park or if full carry on round to the council run car park in Cawsand.
- Just after Exeter, where the M5 becomes the A38, the road splits in two and Sat-Nav can get muddled.
- Take care here and keep following signs to Plymouth. The Tamar Bridge is a toll road (it’s free to enter Cornwall, but it costs you £1 to leave).
- Check your Sat-Nav is not set to avoid toll roads, otherwise you will be sent inland, adding 20 mins to the journey
- There is an alternative route involving a ferry crossing from Plymouth to Torpoint.
- This is much shorter in terms of distance, but can take longer at peak times and late at night. Ferries run every 15 mins between 7am and 9pm, then every quarter past and quarter to the hour through the night. To avoid this route, make sure your sat-nav is set to avoid ferries
Getting to Kingsand and Cawsand by Train (approx 4 hours from London)
- First Great Western serves Plymouth from Paddington (prices vary considerably so it is best to book as soon as possible). Also consider getting off at St German station, which is closer to Cawsand but will require you to book a taxi to pick you up (Cremyll Cabs 01752 822 196)
- See www.thetrainline.com for timetable. From Plymouth station, take a taxi to Admiral’s Hard, Stonehouse, for the Cremyll ferry (£5 taxi, £1.50 ferry).
- Departures are every 30 mins until 1830. See www.tamarcruising.com/ferrytt.htm for full timetable or phone 01752 822105.
- Cremyll take a taxi to Kingsand or Cawsand (£5). Depending on the weather, the Cawsand ferry may be running. From Plymouth station, take a taxi to the Mayflower Steps, Barbican (£5 taxi, £4 ferry). Departures are at 1030, 1200, 1430 and 1600 but call 07763 110526 or 07833 936863 to check if it is running.
- From the beach you can walk to most accommodation in the villages within 5 mins.
- If arriving late on Friday, Liskeard station is more convenient than Plymouth. A taxi to Kingsand or Cawsand takes approx. 40 mins (approx. £35).
Getting to Kingsand and Cawsand by Coach (approx 5.5 hours from London)
- National Express serves Plymouth and Liskeard from London Victoria. See www.nationalexpress.com for details.
- Print off the Welcome email, containing the key safe code, location of thermostat, directions etc.
- Read the welcome pack – it contains over 2 years of accumulated guest’s questions and gems of information in an easy to read format to ensure all of your party have a great holiday.
- Purchase your shopping and collect from Waitrose in Saltash or order via waitrose.com and have shopping delivered to Blue Monkey Garrett Street, Cawsand, PL101PD (Tel: 01752 822 656) / Sainsbury’s Anthony Road, Torpoint PL11 2JW as you drive to Cawsand.
- Order fresh fish to Blue Monkey from Rob the Fish – 01752 814 040. He delivers upon request.
- Allow the chef the night off and ask caterer Sharon Betteridge to spoil you rotten with a gourmet meal / picnic – 01752 822744.
- Book a table at theview-restaurant.co.uk Tel (01752 822345), Devonport Pub devonportinn.com (book in advance to reserve a table, our favourite is table 5, tucked around the corner away from the main doors 01752 822 869).
- Make time to explore the coastal path either via a walk to Rame Head via the lookout station or to Mt Edgcumbe via the tree swing and have tea and scones in the Orangery (return on foot or via bus (taxi is cheapest if 2 or more are travelling).
- Make time for a day trip on Whitsand Bay, take a bbq & book a surf lessons with discoverysurf.com
- Follow the tide out at Whitsand after a storm, the scallops and clams are very tasty picked fresh, you have to be quick though to beat the gulls, also, fresh mussels can be found off the local rocks.
- Pop into the local shops visit to Kingsand Westcroft Gallery (run by friends Dylan & Sarah), Top Hat shop run by the talkative Janet. (They will let you know what is going on locally)
3pm is the earliest guests can enter Blue Monkey on the day of arrival. First impressions are everything and the house is literally turned upside down as part of the clean to ensure high standards are maintained. For this reason unless it is an emergency, the arrival time is no earlier than 3pm. If you think you will arrive early please do view the welcome pack and activities page for suggested ideas to help pass the time.
On arrival at Blue Monkey you can use the 2 passing bays in front of the neighbours property to unload your car, this is immediately to the right hand side of Blue Monkey once you drive pass it or 20m from when you pass the Half Way House Pub. A one way traffic system is in use in the village. There are 3 car parking options
- Napier Parking, Fore Street, PL10 1NA – 25 metres (5 minutes walk) from Blue Monkey. Tel: 01730 828 103 and you can view the tariffs here. NB there are 2 meters – the farthest one allows you to purchase a long term parking ticket
- The 85 space council car park at Cawsand at the end of Garrett Street (Meter takes pound coins).
- Leave your car on the hill as you enter Kingsand – free.
There are three main beaches in the villages of Kingsand and Cawsand which are separated by areas of rocks with interesting rock pools. All beaches are safe for swimming.
- Kingsand: Kingsand Beach is a mixture of sand & shingle which is located along The Cleave. Girt Beach is mainly shingle, but with some sand & can be found along Market Street.
- Cawsand: Cawsand Beach is mainly sand and is found along The Bound.
- Sandaways: A fine swimming beach known as Sandways lies a short walk out of the village across the rocks towards Fort Picklecombe.
- Whitsand Bay: A short trip to the other side of the Rame Peninsula will take you to a 7km stretch of perfect sand that is the beach at Whitsand Bay. Visitors should note that access to the beach is very steep (10 minute walk). Parking: One car park and limited lay-by parking at Tregantle (the path at Tregantle is closed during firing times). One car park at Sharrow Point. Road parking and field car parking at Tregonhawke. There are also other fields opened for parking in summer. Toilets are only at Tregonhawke (which is some distance from Tregantle, Sharrow Point and Freathy). There are two cafe’s at Tregonhawke. Please ask life guards for local conditions as there are rip currents. The western part of the beach is closed during firing range operation at Tregantle Fort, firing times are indicated by a red flag. The path to the beach at Sharrow Point, Freathy and Tregonhawke are steep and slippery and are not suitable for wheelchairs. There is a risk of being cut off at high tide, so keep close to beach access points. Dogs are allowed all year round.
- Emergency: Fire, Police, Ambulance, Coastguard Tel: 999.
- Hospitals:
- St Barnabas Hospital, Higher Port View, Saltash. PL12 4BU. Tel: 01752 857 400 / 857 407. Minor Injuries – Open 08.00-2200 7 days a week.
- Derriford Hospital, Derriford Rd, Crownhill Plymouth,PL6 8DH Tel: 0845 155 8155.
- Police station: Devon & Cornwall Constabulary. Tel: 0845 277 7444.
- Doctor: The Rame Group Practice, 16 Antony Road Torpoint PL11 2JW Tel: 01752 813 277.
- Dentist: Davis C, 17 Antony Rd, Torpoint, PL11 2JS. Tel: 01752 812 513.
- Pharmacy: 5 King St, Millbrook, Torpoint PL10 1AP. Tel: 01752 822 391.
- Trains:
- Plymouth Railway Station PL4 6AB (45 min taxi ride) Tel: 0845 700 0125.
- St Germans Station PL12 5LS (10 min taxi ride) Tel: 0845 700 0125.
- NationalRail.co.uk Tel: 0845 748 4950.
- Buses: http://www.traveline.org.uk – Public transport information. Tel: 0871 200 22 33.
- Markets:
- Plymouth City Market, Market Office, Cornwall Street, PL1 1PS.
- Torpoint Country Market, in the Silver Band Hut, Antony Road, Torpoint. 9.30 – 11.30am every Tuesday.
- Library: Fore St, Torpoint, PL11 2AG. Tel: 01752 812207.
- Banks:
- Barclays Bank PLC, Kings Rd, Devonport, PL1 5QG. Tel: 0845 755 5555.
- NatWest, 40 Fore St, Saltash, PL12 6JU. Tel: 0845 600 2803.
- Cash point in Kingsand Post Office. Tel: 01752 (Charges per withdrawal). All major banks can be found within Plymouth.
- Tourist Centre: 3-5 The Barbican, Plymouth, PL1 2LR. Tel: 01752 306330.
- Cremyll Ferry Timetable:
There are an abundance of local activities right on your door step, below are just a taster of the adventures to be had:
Cawsand Bay offers the ideal place to relax but is also popular for swimming, windsurfing, water skiing, a dream training area for those who are more active! For a fishing break, why not try sea angling, – bass, wrasse, pollock or mackerel are readily caught from the rocks. Bird watchers might see buzzards circling overhead or cormorants fishing, & the really lucky ones may even glimpse a basking shark or a dolphin. Nearby Whitsand Bay is also popular with beachgoers, surfers, and shore-fisherman.
The South West Coastal PathHouses & Gardens:Wet day activity:Plymouth/ (Ferry):
During the summer from Cawsand beach, minutes from Blue Monkey, you can take a passenger ferry to Plymouth which offers an abundance of high street and independent shops, restaurants, cafés, bars, theatres & attractions to suit everyone.
Steeped in history the Barbican & Hoe are definitely worth a visit. Towards Liskeard and Bodmin Moor there are many other activity centres for all ages, including of course the well known Eden Project.
Additional useful sites:
Things to do in Cornwall – a comprehensive guide to Cornwall.
The Cornwall Tourist Board – has cultural and historical information, places to visit, places to stay.
Local Information
Things to do near Kingsand & Cawsand
- Walking: The coastal path from Kingsand and Cawsand is beautiful in both directions. You are in the perfect place for exploring a section of one of Britains most beloved National Trails the “South West Coast Path”. If you follow it around the coastline, it takes you past Penlee Point & Rame Head, with its 11th century monks’ chapel & stunning views to the glorious 4 mile stretch of sand & surf at Whitsand Bay. The View restaurant overlooking Whitsand Bay makes an ideal refreshment stop. The Rame Peninsula also hosts part of the “Cornish Discovery Time Trail” inc. Mt Edgcumbe House.
- Heading west will take you to Penlee Point, Rame Head and Whitsand Bay (a 4 mile walk) ending with refreshments at the View restaurant with panoramic views of Whitsand Bay. You can return direct via downhill road to Cawsand (1 mile) or return via the coastal path. Buses (The pink link) also run from the View Restaurant.
- Heading east will take you through the grounds of Mount Edgcumbe House & their formal gardens (4 miles) with refreshments served at either the Orangery or Edgcumbe Arms. The stunning local costal path walk winds its way through the 800 acre Mount Edgcumbe Park. According to the Shell Guide it is probably the most beautiful park in England. There is a bus that can bring you directly back to Cawsand from the Orangery (making it a very easy walk – 2.5 miles).
- Surfing:Whitsand bay is a great learners surfing beach (experienced surfers can hire boards from the cafe on the beach). http://www.adventurebay.co.uk/ Tel: 07722913206 Email: info@adventurebay.co.uk
- Kite surfing: Mobius – 08456 430 630 Mobius received the Silver Award for Cornish “Leisure Pursuit Provider of the Year in 2007”.
- Golf: Just behind Whitsand bay is one of Cornwall’s most challenging and stunning links golf courses; Whitsand Bay links which is open to the public at under £30 a round. Whitsand Bay Golf Club Green fees M-F £22, S-S £28 (01503 230778). The PGA course at St Mellion is a only 45 minutes drive from Blue Monkey. St Mellion International Resort (01579 352 022).
- Riding: Penewin Stables, Trerulefoot – Lessons from £12 pp ph (01752 851365) – Excellent tuition and a 20 minute drive away.
- Sea fishing: “Fish n trips” – Outings from £15 pp for a half day (07971 208381) – located near the Barbican, Plymouth. Uncle Len’s charters available from Millbrook area (07875 084625).
- Geocaching: Geocaching – “Locate hidden containers called geocaches.”
- Mount Edgcumbe House (see above) (01752 822236) – a country house and gardens a 10 minute drive away.
- National Trust Anthony House and Gardens (01752 812191) – a country house and gardens a 10 minute drive away.
- Lost Gardens of Heligan in St Austell (01726 845100) – one of the most popular botanical gardens in the UK. Has a primeval jungle feel and is a 30m drive away.
- Eden Project in St Austell (01726 811911) – enclosed tropical gardens.
- Mayflower Steps – historical site detailing the Pilgrim Father’s trip to America in 1620. In the summer months, the Cawsand Ferry leaves the beach for a 30 minute trip to the Barbican in Plymouth.
- Or visit nearby Looe, a pretty yet working fishing port.
- The National Marine Aquarium – located near the Barbican, Plymouth. Tel: 01752 600 301
- The Barbican Theatre, Castle St, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 2NJ. Tel: 01752 267 131
- Theatre Royal Ltd., Royal Parade, Plymouth. Tel: 01752 267 222
- Vue Cinemas, Barbican Leisure Park, Shapters Road, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 0LG Tel: 0871 224 0240
- The Reel Cinema, 25 Derrys Cross, Town Centre, Plymouth, PL1 2SW Tel: 01752 255 655
- Warner Village Cinemas, Plymouth, PL4 0LG Tel: 01752 670 001
- Kingsand and Cawsand lie within the boundaries of the Mount Edgcumbe Country Park: 1 of 4 Country Cornish Parks, it is 885 acres situated on the Rame Peninsula, overlooking the Plymouth Sound. Inland, the villages of Millbrook, St John, Sheviock and St Germans are all well worth a visit, as is Antony House, the 18th century home of the Cornish Carew family, now a National Trust property (film location for Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland) and a must for nature lovers with its 100 acres of woodland, gardens and riverside walks.
- Mount Edgcumbe Country Park is one of four designated Country Parks in Cornwall. It is 885 acres overlooking Plymouth Sound and the River Tamar. The Park has been famous since the 18th Century, when the Edgcumbe family created formal gardens, temples, follies and woodlands around the Tudor House. Specimen trees such as Californian Redwood, stand against copses which shelter a herd of wild fallow deer. The South West Coast Path runs through the Park for nine miles along the coastline.
- The Formal Gardens are grouped in the lower park near Cremyll. Originally a 17th Century ‘wilderness’ garden, the present scheme was laid out by the Mount Edgcumbe family in the 18th Century. The Formal Gardens include an Orangery, an Italian Garden, a French Garden, an English Garden and a Jubilee Garden, opened in 2002, to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.
- The Park and Formal Gardens are open all year round and admission is free. The Park and Gardens are jointly managed by Cornwall County Council and Plymouth City Council. Although the park covers a large area, there is little formal maintenance, ensuring it has a rough and ready rural feel in all but the formal gardens.
- Bordered on three sides by the waters of the Rivers Lynher, Tamar and Plymouth Sound, it is known locally as ‘The Forgotten Corner’ and still has an isolated feel about it despite being so close to Plymouth. The Rame Peninsula is an area of outstanding natural beauty with quiet secluded beaches, magnificent scenery and spectacular walks.
- Visitors travelling by car approach the Peninsula by crossing the Tamar Bridge on the A38 or by going through the thriving city of Plymouth with its deep naval traditions and excellent shopping facilities, and boarding the chain ferry to Torpoint. Visitors on foot or with bicycles can take the passenger ferry from Stonehouse in Plymouth to Cremyll or, in the summer, can you can take a delightful boat trip from the Mayflower Steps on the Barbican across the Sound to Cawsand Beach.
- The South West Coast Path follows the coastline past Penlee Point and Rame Head, with its 11th century monks’ chapel and stunning views to the glorious 4 mile stretch of sand and surf at Whitsand Bay popular with beachgoers, surfers, and shore-fisherman. With the Devonport Royal Naval Dockyard nearby, the Rame Peninsula has always been strategically important and so the remains of many fortifications can still be seen throughout the area.
- Please do try to conserve energy by closing windows and doors when you are not in the property. Turn off the lights when not in the rooms and only use the water you require.
- Please will you ensure you do not slam the front door shut but put the key in the lock and gently close it as the noise is easily heard through our neighbour’s walls.
- Please ensure excessive sand is removed outside the house (tap & hose are available in the garden) and sand is not washed down the showers as this leads to blockages, flooding and lost deposits.
- Please do feel free to use the fire and BBQ but please do leave the fire laid for the next guests upon your departure and leave the BBQ (& utensils) tidy and cleaned after use. (Cleaning company charge £25 to clean the fire and bbq).
- Please leave the property in the same clean and tidy condition at the end of the hire period as at the beginning. The owner reserves the right to deduct any extra cleaning costs incurred from your deposit (see Terms and Conditions)
- Please also email enquiries@bluemonkeycornwall.com if there are any ways I can improve your next stay or do leave a note out for the house keeper which will be passed on.
If you have any questions no matter how small, during your stay please call Annabel Herbert on 07845 468 487
In the event of a fire the escape ladder is located on the 2nd floor back bedroom left wall cupboard on the floor.
We accept minor damages and breakages do occur and dont charge for this,but please notify us via the maintenance book of any incidents before you depart so we can resolve problems quickly and ensure the next guests have full sets of all items.
Yes, all linen and house towels are provided by our 5* cleaning company.
parentandchildnannies.co.uk – Holly Lee – The Parent & Child Nanny Agency Tel: 01392 428 035. 53
nannies@parentandchild.co.uk, references are available.
Please visit childcare.co.uk and enter Blue Monkey’s postcode PL10 1PD to find local babysitters
Please independently verify the company as we can not be held responsible for any incidents.
Yes the WEP code is on the base of the router available at the property, If there is a problem with the router please turn it off at the wall, unplug the socket & press restart. Feel free to enjoy the clock tower Wi-Fi which is 30m away.
Yes, guests are welcome to use the land line (01752 822 565 for local or national calls), & use Sky Box Office but please leave money in the caterpillar honesty box next to the phone.
Yes you are welcome to use the fire/ BBQ, but please will you leave the BBQ fully cleaned and fire laid, ready to light for the next guests, (the cleaning company charge £25 to clean the fireplace). Please help yourself to garden logs but please replenish the dining room log store so it’s always full for the next guest
You will find the kitchen cupboard topped up with, teas, coffees, olive oil, salt pepper, spices, sugar, stock cubes. Please do top up any used items ready for the next guests.
All cleaning products and dishwasher liquids are provided either under the kitchen sink or in the utility room locked cupboards. Please note that the cleaning products stored in the utility room are hazardous to children and pets. Guests take full responsibility if they make these available to pets or children or if they use these products and no liability can be taken by the owners (cupboard keys are on the utility room garden door chain set).
We welcome well behaved pets for a fee of £75 per pet.
If you want a day out without your dog, you can book them into Trehill Kennels & Cattery at Rame (less than a 5 minute drive away), rather than leave them at Blue Monkey and risk bad behaviour and loss of deposit. Contact 01752 829018.
Dogs are allowed all year at Kingsand beach, on Whitsand Bay, throughout the village and along all of the costal paths. Dogs are banned at Cawsand from Easter Day to October 1st.
If you’d like to find out more information on our dog friendly cottages in cornwall click here.
Yes, the garden is a sun trap and an excellent sunbathing spot. It is secure and private and has table & chairs and bbq are available for your use.
Sleepeezee (Super King), Sleepeezee (Super King), Sleepeezee (King), Slumberland / Dreams (single).
The property is less than 25m from the local beach and within a 2 minute walk to 2 other family friendly beaches in the village or a 5 minute drive to a 7km stretch of golden sand on Whitsand Bay.
- 3* Travel cots
- 2* High chair
- Stair gate
- Baby bath
- Baby door-bouncer
- Baby changing mat
- Foam play mat – jigsaw fit
- Steriliser
- Baby Place Setting
- Melamine Feeding Set
- Day travel rucksack
- Fun Blocks / Baby and young children’s toys – (alwaysadvisable to bring your child’s favourites)
- Socket protectors
- Beach tent with sun shade
- Fishing nets, crab lines, body boards, cricket bats, boomerangs, boules etc (Please remove sand after use)
- 2 body boards
- Bookcases of books, games and DVDs as well as some of the most beautiful English countryside and beaches for a playground
- Board games are stored in the cupboard to the left of the living room fire place. (Please don’t remove any books from the property).
- Please do let us know if there is anything missing so we can add this to make Blue Monkey more baby friendly.